Gear of the Month | October 2025

October has been a busy month for gear releases, with new lenses and cameras arriving from some of the biggest names. Nikon users have had plenty to celebrate with new options across both FX and DX mounts, while Fujifilm gave one of its most popular compact cameras a boost and released it alongside a brand-new travel zoom. Tamron was very Tamron and gave us updates to their two of their all-rounder lenses, and Leica… well, Leica has took an unexpected turn that’s bound to spark a few debates.

So, if you’re in the mood to upgrade your kit, find the next member of your lens collection, or simply stay on top of the latest launches, here’s our low-down on the gear of the month from October 2025.

Let’s get to it!

Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens for Nikon Z

The Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens delivers standout shots for Nikon full-frame mirrorless cameras. Thanks to its versatile 70-180mm focal range, fixed f2.8 aperture, and intuitive ergonomics, this lens gives users flexibility, agility, and stabilisation to adapt to shooting environments. The premium construction features 20 glass elements in 15 groups, producing exceptional performance.

£999.00 View

Let’s start with something for Nikon Z shooters. Tamron’s 70–180mm f2.8 G2 brings all the versatility and quality we loved in the original Sony-mount version, now with full support for Nikon’s mirrorless system. It’s a fast telephoto zoom that offers performance and portability, with a constant f2.8 aperture in a surprisingly compact build.

This lens fills a real gap for Nikon Z users who want the reach and shallow depth of field of a pro-grade 70-200mm, but in a smaller and lighter package. This lens has sharper optics, faster autofocus and improved image stabilisation, meaning you can rely on it for pretty much everything. And the constant f2.8 aperture also gives you flexibility in tricky light and more creative control over your background blur.

Nikon Z MC 35mm f1.7 DX Lens

The Nikon Z MC 35mm f1.7 DX is a compact macro prime lens delivering 0.67x magnification, equivalent to 1:1 life-size on 35mm/FX format. Its fast f1.7 aperture and aspherical ED glass element ensure crisp detail, smooth bokeh, and low-light precision. With a 0.16m minimum focus distance, quiet STM autofocus, reduced focus breathing, and versatile focal length, it’s ideal for close-ups, portraits, street photography, and video alike.

£399.00 View

Next up is a new compact prime for Nikon’s DX mirrorless line (and it’s one a lot of users have been hoping for). The Z MC 35mm f1.7 DX is a bright, lightweight lens that doubles as both a walkaround prime and a close-up option thanks to its macro focusing capabilities.

With an f1.7 aperture, this little lens is perfect for low-light shooting, perfect for portraits, street shots, and just adding a bit of atmosphere to your everyday photography. Its macro focusing distance lets you get surprisingly close to your subjects, so that means that this 35mm can also get detailed shots of textures, flowers and whatnot. And all of this flexibility comes in a light and compact frame, making it an easy fit for smaller bodies like the Z fc or Z 30.

Nikon Z 16-50mm f2.8 DX VR Lens

The Nikon Z 16-50mm f2.8 DX VR Lens offers excellent low-light capabilities and a flexible focal length range for capturing a broad range of scenes. Covering a 24-75mm equivalent range, it features up to 4.5 stops of VR stabilisation, an STM autofocus for sharp results, reduced focus breathing, and Hi-Res Zoom up to 100m. Compact and lightweight, it's ideal for shooting handheld, whether capturing sharp stills and high-quality video.

£799.00 View

And then there was another lens for Nikon DX. The new Z 16–50mm f2.8 VR is another example of building on the popularity of previous lenses; in this case, Nikon’s earlier compact zoom. But here, with a brighter constant aperture that makes it far more capable in low light.

That constant f2.8 aperture is the headline. It means you’ll get consistently bright exposures across the zoom range, plus the chance for some pleasing background separation even when zoomed in. Add Nikon’s VR stabilisation, and you’ve got a lens that’s great for handheld video, indoor events or fast-paced travel photography. And it’s small enough to stay on your camera full-time but delivers results that look like they came from something twice the size.

Tamron 25-200mm f2.8-5.6 DI III VXD G2 Lens for Sony FE

The Tamron 25-200mm f2.8-5.6 Di III VXD G2 is a second-generation all-in-one zoom for Sony E-mount full-frame cameras. Spanning wide-angle to telephoto, it offers extensive framing flexibility in a compact 575g build. Its 18-element, 14-group optical design with BBAR-G2 coating maintains sharpness and contrast, while the VXD linear motor helps photographers focus accurately when reframing or tracking movement in dynamic scenes on location.

£729.00 View

Tamron has also been busy updating one of its most versatile lenses for Sony full-frame users. The 25-200mm G2 covers just about every focal length you could reasonably want, all while maintaining impressive sharpness and speed, especially at the wide end, where it opens up to f2.8.

It’s fair to say that this is the definition of a “do-it-all” lens. From wide landscapes to portraits, it handles it all without you needing to change lens. The new G2 version has improved autofocus precision, better close-up performance, and new enhanced coatings for higher contrast and flare resistance. And like the other lenses we’ve talked about thus far, it remains compact enough to slip into a small travel bag.

Fujifilm XC 13-33mm f3.5-6.3 OIS Lens

The Fujifilm XC 13-33mm f3.5-6.3 OIS offers a compact and lightweight profile with a 20-50mm full-frame equivalent range for travel and everyday photography. With a unique retractable structure, it features an advanced optical construction of 10 elements in 9 groups and up to 4 stops of Optical Image Stabilisation for steady handheld shots. With a 20cm minimum focus distance, it captures detailed close-ups while maintaining sharpness across the frame.

£329.00 View

Fuji fans haven’t been left out either. The new XC 13–33mm f3.5–6.3 OIS is a compact, wide-to-standard zoom designed to complement Fuji’s smaller, lighter X-series bodies. For those in the know, that’s a nice bit of foreshadowing.

This lens offers a 19.5-49.5mm full-frame equivalent, hitting the everyday sweet spot, which is wide enough for landscapes and interiors, and long enough for portraits and street. The built-in Optical Image Stabilisation helps you keep things sharp, even when shooting handheld in lower light. And because it’s part of the XC range, it stays lightweight and affordable without losing much in optical performance.

Fujifilm X-T30 III Digital Camera Body - Black

Fujifilm’s X-T30 III pairs a 26.1MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and X-Processor 5 for reliable speed, detail and colour accuracy suited to casual, everyday photography. Building on its predecessor, the X-T30 II, it has a new Film Simulation dial for instant access to 20 colour profiles, precise AI-driven autofocus, and 6.2K video recording. Compact and lightweight at 378g, it features Fujifilm’s classic design and sought-after film-like shots in a travel-friendly form.

£829.00 View

Foreshadowing: a clue or allusion embedded in the narrative that predicts some later event or revelation.

Speaking of Fuji, the new X-T30 III has also landed, bringing some big upgrades to one of the brand’s most popular compact cameras. It has the same 26.1MP X-Trans BSI CMOS 4 sensor but with a big, powerful boost courtesy of Fujifilm’s X-Processor 5, present in higher-end models, but in a smaller, more approachable and affordable body.

What’s more, this latest version adds improved autofocus tracking, 4K 60p video, better battery life and a higher-resolution screen, making it a fantastic choice for creators and beginners. It retains Fuji’s signature retro styling and tactile controls but feels snappier and more responsive in use.

While I question a 3rd iteration of any camera over a real significant jump in the same category, this is a solid upgrade. It really offers a lot in this specific space. Plus, pair it with that new 13-33mm XC lens, and you’ve got an incredibly capable travel combo.

Check out our review below!

Leica M EV1 Digital Camera Body

The Leica M EV1 brings modern mirrorless precision to the M series as the first model with a built-in 5.76-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder. Its 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with Triple Resolution Technology captures striking tonal range and detail, while the Maestro III processor with Leica Content Credentials ensures every frame carries verifiable authenticity. Designed with a minimal finish, it embodies Leica’s belief that less truly is more.

£6,840.00 View

And finally, something truly different. Leica’s M EV1 marks a turning point for the legendary M series, bringing an electronic viewfinder to a line that’s always relied on optical rangefinders. It’s still beautifully built, fully manual and very much a Leica; but it’s a Leica reimagined for the modern age.

As you can imagine, the 60MP full-frame BSI sensor delivers exquisite image quality, while the new EVF gives you live exposure previews, focus peaking and a host of digital features that M users have never had before. Some may question whether this is a true M-series camera with the inclusion of this EVF, but it’s still a purist’s camera, and now can handle modern workflows and expectations. It’s still a camera that is built for the joy of taking your time with your photography.

Watch our review below: